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Topic: "Normal service" and Slide Bladder replacement, Old Town MotorCoach Nac (Read 2447 times) previous topic - next topic

"Normal service" and Slide Bladder replacement, Old Town MotorCoach Nac

We are currently in the parking lot of Old Town Motor coach after hours,  after having had Cummins, chassis, generator service, and the living room slide bladder replaced.  We have not settled the bill yet, we will do that tomorrow morning. 

We found the entire staff knowledgeable and friendly.  While we are new Foretravel owners (since mid November 2016), we have owned 2 Bluebirds and full timed since 2009.

We had the following done: Chassis lube and suspension inspection, Cummins filters, and oil, air dryer service, generator oil & oil filter, generator new coolant, inspect/adjust brakes, hydraulic filters and oil, check hub levels and rear axle level, inspect belts/hoses, inspect CAC and pipes, set tire pressures, inspect air and hydraulic lines for rubbing, contact points, fraying.

On the slide bladder, FOT could not get us in until 6 March, MOT 13 March.  Old Town got us in within a couple of days of initial contact.  Isaac has done slide bladders when employed by FOT/MOT.  We started the work mentioned above plus slide bladder on Monday 2/20 and finished today on 2/21.  They were also tracking down air leaks and doing suspension air bags on another coach at the same time.

We ran into a problem with the slide bladder on 2/20.  The slide bladder in the box, marked with the correct number on the bladder itself, was "supposed" to be the correct one for our coach according to FOT and HWH.  The wrong size bladder was in the box, and was mis-printed on the bladder itself.  This was an error at HWH when manufactured.

 All the prep work was done on Monday.  The correct new bladder was acquired from FOT on Tuesday morning (marked with the same numbers).  FOT is returning the mis-marked bladder back to HWH under warranty.

Since we had the slide half finished on Monday night (through no fault of Old Town), we spent the night in our coach inside their building.  It worked out fine.

I will first post some generic pictures of the slide, new slide air block (required by HWH now with new bladders).

931 new air block, 313 working on old slide bladder removal, 354 and 536 slide mechanism inside coach, 503 the new style bladders now being manufactured, and 607 new and original slide air blocks (closest one is the new style).

Next post will detail why the old slide bladder failed (and you should check yours).
Dan - Full timing since 2009
2003 U320 40' Tag 2 slide

Re: "Normal service" and Slide Bladder replacement, Old Town MotorCoach Nac

Reply #1 –
This coach had both air bladders (living room and bedroom) replaced in 2010.  The living room bladder failed at dead center bottom, in the "slot" (track) for moving slide in/out.  In this track, the bladder would bulge outward without a guide/flap to retain the bladder.

The guide/flap on the bedroom slide was positioned correctly, the living room hit dead center on the bladder, instead of going over the entire bladder.  This caused two things: bulging of 1/2 the bladder at edge of guide/flap, and wear/rubbing (almost sawing) of the bladder by the edge of the guide/flap.

Pic 1 correct placement of the guide/flap, pic 2 incorrect placement of guide/flap that caused bladder failure.

Dan - Full timing since 2009
2003 U320 40' Tag 2 slide

Re: "Normal service" and Slide Bladder replacement, Old Town MotorCoach Nac

Reply #2 –
The OP comments regarding the staff at Old Town is encouraging.  We plan to take our Lazy Daze to them later this year for some work and these favorable Old Town comments are reinforcing that we've made a good choice.
'09 Lazy Daze 27 MB
Fort Worth, TX

Re: "Normal service" and Slide Bladder replacement, Old Town MotorCoach Nac

Reply #3 –
Sincere people trying to build a great reputation, one customer

at a time. Have enjoyed having them do work on my coach. From

the waits you encountered shows that there is a need for another

quality facility like theirs here in Nac. That was the reason I went there

the first time.

Carter-

Re: "Normal service" and Slide Bladder replacement, Old Town MotorCoach Nac

Reply #4 –
Something else I like is the way they did the billing.  Every part used broken out with price, and labor sub divided for the time spent on each line item. 

Quote from: Traxless –
The OP comments regarding the staff at Old Town is encouraging.  We plan to take our Lazy Daze to them later this year for some work and these favorable Old Town comments are reinforcing that we've made a good choice.
Dan - Full timing since 2009
2003 U320 40' Tag 2 slide

Re: "Normal service" and Slide Bladder replacement, Old Town MotorCoach Nac

Reply #5 –
X2 on the billing method.  When I scheduled with them, I insured they used this billing method.  I had extensive work done by another vendor that had all the parts listed and then an aggregate of all the hours.  No specific jobs unless you deciphered by parts. 

Excellent service, honest, competent and right on time.  Glad they are an option!
George and Steph
1997 U270 36 Build 5081 "Honu"
1180w Solar 400A lithium all Victron house system
Motorcade 17670, SKP 128300, FMCA F459019
73 VW Camper, 79 VW Camper, 2363 Sunline, and an Arctic Fox 25P

Re: "Normal service" and Slide Bladder replacement, Old Town MotorCoach Nac

Reply #6 –
Later this spring we will have our coach in Nac. for a few things at FT,MOT & OTM. Then over to Extreme for 2 weeks for fiberglas work.
OTM did us right when we were there last fall.
'02 40' U320t  4010WTFS Build 6036 1 slide
Motorcade # 17841
SKP 151920
Retired truck driver
 5 million miler
Still have itchy feet for travel

Re: "Normal service" and Slide Bladder replacement, Old Town MotorCoach Nac

Reply #7 –
I want to second all of the  gold stars on OTM's chart. Was there End of January fot rad replace, new air bags, install of shocks I bought and other misc items and some good free advice.  Excellent attention, service and fairness of price  Good people.  Also, on short notice they got Beau Reece in to deal with an exhaust manifold leak. Also a positive experience.

David Spoor
1999 U 295
San Antonio/Kerrville
David C Spoor
San Antonio and Kerrville, Texas
1999 U 295

Re: "Normal service" and Slide Bladder replacement, Old Town MotorCoach Nac

Reply #8 –
Have an appointment at OTM in late April - hope to be as pleased as everyone else seem to be!  I've seen a few gold stars from Michelle as well in prior posts.
James
w/ DW Erin, sons Gideon and Tobias, cats Oscar & Oliver
Fulltime 1999 U270 34' #5508

Re: "Normal service" and Slide Bladder replacement, Old Town MotorCoach Nac

Reply #9 –
We are camped at OTM right now. We had scheduled to get our airbags replaced just as a precautionary measure since they were the originals . Impressed with OTM's persistence and skill in tracking down a pesky air leak in the system which we had been struggling with. Courteous, knowledgeable, competent. And ditto on the clear billing.
Robert & Linda Garnett
1999 U270 34'  , build 5539
2004 Acura MDX

Re: "Normal service" and Slide Bladder replacement, Old Town MotorCoach Nac

Reply #10 –
Was we able to get the price on the replacement of the bladder? what did they have for hours ? and cost on parts?

Thanks

Re: "Normal service" and Slide Bladder replacement, Old Town MotorCoach Nac

Reply #11 –
Quote from: DavidS –
Was we able to get the price on the replacement of the bladder? what did they have for hours ? and cost on parts?

Thanks


8am -5pm is the hours.  They will stay late if needed to finish a job.  Replacement bladder costs similar to MOT and FOT (perhaps lower due to labor rate difference).  I had a lot of work done, so the total cost does not apply.

For the bladder only:

For the large living room slide (160" wide). All prices rounded up/down to even $.
Parts:
Bladder $1628
Air manifold (now required by HWH with new bladders) $832
Vacuum y modifier for manifold $30
double side tape: $62
New slot cover (since ours was mis-applied upon build and caused this failure) $35 (if yours is correct not needed)
Primer for bladder replacement: $30
3/8: air couplings:, 3 each: $36 for all three

Labor for slide bladder only: 12.5 man hours @ $90 per hour: $1125


 $3743 give or take $2.00-$3.00  in the rounding.  Add $35 if your slot cover bottom middle at bottom of slide is not correctly placed.

Smaller slides than 160" wide would be less. Larger slides would be more.

Remember to add 8.25% tax rate on top.  Should come out to about $4050 with taxes.

EVERYONE SHOULD IMMEDIATLEY CHECK THE SLOT COVER IN BOTTOM MIDDLE OF THEIR SLIDES!!  See post 2 in this thread. 




 
Dan - Full timing since 2009
2003 U320 40' Tag 2 slide

Re: "Normal service" and Slide Bladder replacement, Old Town MotorCoach Nac

Reply #12 –
Hi,

Does a '02 have a slot cover for the living room slide? I do not see one. With the slide out the bladder does project up into the open slot a little where there is nothing for the bladder to contact.

Jim

2002 U320 42'
Jim Frerichs
2002 U320 42'

Re: "Normal service" and Slide Bladder replacement, Old Town MotorCoach Nac

Reply #13 –
Quote from: Jim Frerichs –
Hi,

Does a '02 have a slot cover for the living room slide? I do not see one. With the slide out the bladder does project up into the open slot a little where there is nothing for the bladder to contact.

Jim

2002 U320 42'


In my opinion, yes It should have that slot cover. In your case, perhaps FT failed to install it?  See this thread: Emergency '03 slide bladder repair 

That thread is where I lifted the photos from to display the issue.
Dan - Full timing since 2009
2003 U320 40' Tag 2 slide

Re: "Normal service" and Slide Bladder replacement, Old Town MotorCoach Nac

Reply #14 –
Quote from: Jim Frerichs –
Hi,

Does a '02 have a slot cover for the living room slide? I do not see one. With the slide out the bladder does project up into the open slot a little where there is nothing for the bladder to contact.

Jim

2002 U320 42'

Mine does not either.. Bedroom yes but no on the livingroom.

Re: "Normal service" and Slide Bladder replacement, Old Town MotorCoach Nac

Reply #15 –
What does the new "air manifold do?  Is it recommended as a retrofit for existing bladder systems?  Thanks
Gordon Cole
2002 U320 36'

Re: "Normal service" and Slide Bladder replacement, Old Town MotorCoach Nac

Reply #16 –
It is not Recommended it is mandatory !!

Has a valve in it that doesnt allow the air to back out and to hold( so it doesnt slowly drain out) (as I understood it)..

Re: "Normal service" and Slide Bladder replacement, Old Town MotorCoach Nac

Reply #17 –
Thanks.  I guess that would only be an issue if there was a leak somewhere upstream of the bladder.
Gordon Cole
2002 U320 36'

Re: "Normal service" and Slide Bladder replacement, Old Town MotorCoach Nac

Reply #18 –
Quote from: DavidS –
Mine does not either.. Bedroom yes but no on the livingroom.

My bedroom has it because the bladder is newer, and the living room has one but it's thin.

Can a new slot cover be put on easily, or does it require pushing the slide in? 
Does anyone have pix of how the slot cover is attached?

Re: "Normal service" and Slide Bladder replacement, Old Town MotorCoach Nac

Reply #19 –
Quote from: Travelin' Man –
My bedroom has it because the bladder is newer, and the living room has one but it's thin.

Can a new slot cover be put on easily, or does it require pushing the slide in? 
Does anyone have pix of how the slot cover is attached?
Wondering also.. It looks like it needs added. Both bladders are new on mine and I am thinking it should have one

Re: "Normal service" and Slide Bladder replacement, Old Town MotorCoach Nac

Reply #20 –
Quote from: gordon cole –
What does the new "air manifold do?  Is it recommended as a retrofit for existing bladder systems?  Thanks



I would not personally retrofit the new manifold on an existing bladder.  I still have our  bedroom slide bladder on old manifold.  I also kept the removed one during this service as a spare.  HWH requires new manifolds  on new bladders for any form of warranty.

This part may or may not be true: the new manifold does not require the compressor run to create vacuum to deflate the manifold.  I read that somewhere, never verified it.
Dan - Full timing since 2009
2003 U320 40' Tag 2 slide

Re: "Normal service" and Slide Bladder replacement, Old Town MotorCoach Nac

Reply #21 –
Quote from: Travelin' Man –
My bedroom has it because the bladder is newer, and the living room has one but it's thin.

Can a new slot cover be put on easily, or does it require pushing the slide in? 
Does anyone have pix of how the slot cover is attached?


I did not watch the slot cover be added.  I do know it was the last thing they did during  bladder replacement.
Dan - Full timing since 2009
2003 U320 40' Tag 2 slide

Re: "Normal service" and Slide Bladder replacement, Old Town MotorCoach Nac

Reply #22 –
Quote from: DavidS –
Wondering also.. It looks like it needs added. Both bladders are new on mine and I am thinking it should have one


It is my opinion that having the bladder inflate without it causes too much bladder bulging in the "slot", and possible rubbing on the edges of the slot.  (I could be wrong, but I would want it if missing)  Also see this older thread: Emergency '03 slide bladder repair 

Dan - Full timing since 2009
2003 U320 40' Tag 2 slide

Re: "Normal service" and Slide Bladder replacement, Old Town MotorCoach Nac

Reply #23 –
Quote from: AC7880 –

It is my opinion that having the bladder inflate without it causes too much bladder bulging in the "slot", and possible rubbing on the edges of the slot.  (I could be wrong, but I would want it if missing)

Since our B/R slide bladder failed in exactly that spot in 2010 (as discussed in the Emergency repair thread you linked), we agree that not having it would be lifespan-shortening for a slide bladder.

When that bladder was replaced by MOT, they discovered the guide/flap just laying there in the space underneath the slide.  It simply was never installed when the coach was built  >:(
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: "Normal service" and Slide Bladder replacement, Old Town MotorCoach Nac

Reply #24 –
I'm guessing that the slot cover needs pushed in to R&R it, unless a piece of sheet metal can be slid in under the (now-thin) original.